A Senior Process Engineer will be a primary owner of process development for priority businesses and brands, particularly on major initiatives, from the initial concept through final commercialization phases.  Development work will focus on understanding the science that defines critical transformations within each unit operation, and then translating this into performance-based specifications that provide the widest possible solution space for optimized system design.  In addition, this position will work to further develop technical skills within assigned areas of focus in order to provide impactful business results outside of business-led initiatives.  The individual in this position will have a bias for action, will be efficient in working towards end goals, will utilize external resources and insights where appropriate, will demonstrate command of process engineering principles, and will measure self-performance by actual results and how they were delivered.  This position could have direct reports.

Position Responsibilities

• Define the physical, chemical, and biological transformations that must occur to produce food products meeting customer and consumer requirements, and translate into clear design specifications & process requirements.
• Lead process development as well as other cross-functional activities on projects, particularly those initiatives involving innovation and new technologies.
• Develop cost estimates and capital requests for small and large-scale trials.
• Construct and lead the execution of bench top, pilot plant and plant experiments/trials, either individually or as a member of a technical team.
• Comprehend and apply principles of the scale-up of unit operations common within the food industry.
• Understand the fundamentals of Design of Experiments, and execute where appropriate.
• Exhibit high-level business acumen to understand and challenge drivers that influence project profitability and cost optimization.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of all experimental and design work.
• Evaluate results, make conclusions, prepare reports and/or presentation decks, present and defend with support of supervisor.
• Leverage both internal and external resources to help analyze problems, identify alternative options, carry out tests, foresee consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Conduct literature searches and prepare summaries/conclusions/insights playbooks from them.
• Define processing core competencies in terms of playbooks, white papers, or other forms of knowledge capture and transfer technical learnings to manufacturing facilities where appropriate
• Develop and apply project management skills.
• Act as change agent within the organization, and champion ideas with significant business potential, gaining organizational buy-in where resistance is initially met.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of process innovation and development pipeline in assigned business areas through development of subject matter expertise and creative thinking.
• Direct group efforts by collecting, analyzing, and presenting process data.

Position Qualifications

• BS Chemical or Food Engineering required. MS preferred. 
• Minimum 5 years related experience in process research required with a preference of having worked in the food industry.
• Knowledge of unit operations and processing equipment. 
• Intermediate project management knowledge and strong collaboration skills.
• Ability and desire to learn new skills/technologies and to learn processes/products/systems.
• Strategic, big-picture thinking skills.
• Comfort with ambiguity.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Self-starter.
• Ability to work as a team member and individually.
• Proficient at Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, Visio and PowerPoint. Familiarity with statistics tools and software (i.e. Minitab). Familiarity with historian or other process database management.
• Ability to travel up to 40% of the time. Must be able to travel independently and as a responsible company representative.

Conagra’s culture of collaboration enhances our ability to meet critical business goals, deliver value to customers and consumers and provide you with the flexibility you need to achieve a better work-life balance. We carefully consider each role and how often each team member needs to collaborate in-person. This position requires you work from our Omaha office 4 days a week.

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Our Benefits:

We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:

• Health: Medical, dental and vision insurance, company-paid life, accident and disability insurance
• Wealth: great pay, incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan
• Growth: online courses, virtual and classroom development experiences
• Balance: paid-time off, paternal leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role)

Our Company:

Conagra Brands is one of North America's leading branded food companies. We have a rich heritage of making great food, and a team that’s passionate about innovation and growth. Conagra offers choices for every occasion through iconic brands, such as Birds Eye®, Marie Callender's®, Banquet®, Healthy Choice®, Slim Jim®, Reddi-wip®, and Vlasic®, and emerging brands, including Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®, Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and Frontera®.

We pride ourselves on having the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in the food industry. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. â€‹